At the Leek Food Bank on Friday 16th July Karen met local volunteers from Churches Together and heard from Project Coordinator Ian Smith how he and his colleagues manage and distribute the donations they receive.
Karen said:
“It was very good to meet Ian and his colleagues to understand the work they are doing at the food bank. I am not surprised that when they are told there is a problem, the people of Leek step forward to volunteer and the Churches Together team are really setting an example with helping their neighbours.
“The food bank is there to help people in immediate need and most of the 32 families that have benefited from it so far have been referred there by the local CAB and Your Moorlands housing association. I understand that many people looking for help are being told there will be a six week delay in receiving their money when they change from one kind of benefit to another. That’s certainly something I want to get to the bottom of because that should just not happen and there is certainly no reason why the people of Staffordshire Moorlands should be treated any differently to any other areas of the country.
“I was impressed, but not surprised, by the amount of food that people have donated, and the food bank can also now offer things like toothpaste and toothbrushes too. Ian and his volunteers are clearly very well organised and dedicated and the whole operation runs very effectively.
Karen is pictured with Ian Smith, and then helping volunteers Maureen Powner and Anne Ward organise donations.
More Information on Food Banks:
Food banks first started to operate in the early part of the last decade under Labour and their use increased tenfold during that time, but unfortunlatey in 2008 the Labour Government banned Jobcentres from referring people to them.
In contrast the Coalition government has listened to feedback from volunteers across the country, so that Job Centre advisors can now refer claimants who need additional help to food banks. If people with a short-term problem can get the help they need faster and more easily, that can only be a good thing. The Trussell Trust has provided advice to different groups across the country, as well as in Leek, so that things work more effectively.
There is no room for complacency but the Government is helping people with the cost of living. Income tax has been cut in half for those on the minimum wage, and thanks to a Conservative District Council, Moorlands council tax has been frozen for three years. Average fuel pump prices are also now 10p per litre lower than if Labour’s plans had been follwed, and child tax credit went up by £390 between 2010 and 2012. The Healthy Start scheme also helps low income families to buy milk, fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. This Government already makes immediate crisis loans available to those in need.